Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.)

A. J. KENNEDY.

CARPET STRETOHER.

Patented Oct. 16; 1883.

LMEMMU d WITNESSES INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. KENNEDY, OF ATHENS, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,708, dated October 16, 1883. Application filed April 11, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT JL KENNEDY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Athens, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carp et-Stretchers;

andI do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices adapted for service in stretching carpets; and the novelty consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims. Various devices for this service have been devised.

My invention has for its object to produce a .device which shall clamp the carpet without piercing or tearing it; which shall hold itself and the carpet in locked position until the carpet is tacked or otherwise secured; one which shall be inexpensive in manufacture, simple in operation, efficient in service, and durable; and to, these ends the invention consists, essentially, in the mechanism fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wl1ich form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device complete and in operative position, and Fig.2 a perspective. Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A represents the base-plate, which, in practice, is adapted to rest upon the floor under the free portion of the carpet, and it carries a rigid standard, B,with which standard is rigidly secured ahorizontal arm, 0, arranged directly above and approximately parallel with the baseplate A, and having a rack, 0, formed on its upper surface. Removably pivoted to the end of this arm 0, opposite the standard 13, is a swing-brace, D, to the lower end oflwhich is pivotally secured the clamping-plate D,which is adapted to rest upon the top of the free porti on of the carpet. The swing-brace D is proproperly stretched,

vided with'a splice-joint, d, between its pivots, with the arm 0 and plate D, and by reason of this joint the distance between the arm 0 and said plate may be very accurately adjusted, the parts being locked in their desired adjustment by means of the set-screw d. This adjusting means may, however, in ordinary practice, be omitted, as a solid brace would al low the clamping of several thicknesses of carpet a necessity where the carpet is too large or where a. portion of it has to be folded in and under. The brace acts as a toggle, in a certain sense, and when the carpet is once clamped between the plates A and D, and the plates held against the pull of the carpet, the pull itself will hold the clamp in operation, as the greater the pull the tighter the plates D A will be held together.

On the arm 0, near its junction with the standard A, is formed a hook-shoulder, H, which is adapted to receive a lever, I, having a pawl, J. The lever has a curved portion, 17, which terminates in a sharp point, i, adapted to engage in the floor. Force being applied to the lever I, the clamping devices thrown into operation by the brace D, and the said devices moved bodily toward the .wall, the carpet is and the pawl J, taking into the ratchets a, lock the parts in that position until the carpet at the right or left of the device has been tacked, when the device may be moved along and the operation continued.

It will be observed that by this construction the carpet is not pierced or injured, and that one person-can effect the entire operation of stretching and securing a carpet.

"Modifications indetails of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which will be readily understood from the foregoing description,

taken in connection with the drawings. 7

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters -IOO 2. In combination with the plates A D, D, the swing-braee D, having means for adswlng-brace D, and rack c, the lever I, and justing its length, and a set-screw, d, for lock- PZLWl J, as and for the purposes set forth. ing' the parts when the proper adjustment has 3. The combinationm'ith the plate A, standaccrued, substantially as set forth.

5 311113, and rack-bar O c, havinghook-shoulder In testimony whereof I affix my signature in H, of the plate D, swing-brace D, and the lepresence oftwo Witnesses. V61 I, having curved portion t and point'i, ALBERT J. KENNEDY. and the pawl J, all operating as and for the Witnesses: purposes set forth. JosEPH H INEs,

IO 4. In combination with the pia-tes A 111d \VM. DURRANT. 

